Helen Vander Hamm, 98, formerly of Fairfield, Iowa, passed away Monday,
December 23, 2024 at Lone Tree Health Care Center in Lone Tree, Iowa.
Helen was born October 22, 1926 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Florence (Porter) Simon. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1943
where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Victory Corp and six
different choral groups. After busy and involved high school years, she graduated
from Burlington Junior College and then attended Antioch College, Yellow
Springs, Ohio where her studies focused on textile design and marketing. While at
Antioch, Helen completed an internship in downtown Chicago at Carson, Pirie,
Scott Department Store. She often commented that the smell of bus exhaust
brought back fond memories of Chicago. After one year at Antioch, Helen transferred to Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, where she graduated in the
spring of 1949 with a major in clothing and textiles. It was while attending Iowa
State that she met a fellow student and her future husband Lowell. They were
married September 24, 1949 in Burlington, Iowa and celebrated 65 years of
marriage together before Lowell passed November 6, 2014.
Helen was a homemaker, but for a period of years she also worked in the fabric department at the Ben Franklin store in Fairfield. She was a member of First
Lutheran Church in Fairfield where she sang in the choir and was active in various
church groups through the years. Her love for music and theater continued
throughout her life. She also loved to cook, bake and try new recipes. Her favorite
book to read was a cookbook, and she had many! Helen and Lowell raised a very
special and loving family together.
Those left to honor her memory include her children and their spouses, Susan (Richard deceased) Strobl of Hagerstown, Maryland, Sherry (Rick) Ogren of Lone Tree, Iowa and Scott Vander Hamm (Dr. Kren Shriver) of Poughkeepsie, New
York; two grandchildren, Ashlee (Brenton) Woods of Moline, Illinois, Alex
(Madeline) Ogren of Lone Tree, Iowa; four step-grandchildren, Scott (Krysti)
Strobl of Burbank, CA, Michele Strobl-Walker of Bakersfield, CA, Mike (Mei)
Strobl of Stevenson Ranch, CA. and Jeremy (Kori) Strobl of Oceanside, CA; four
great-grandchildren, eleven step-great-grandchildren and three step great-great-
grandchildren; nephews Dr. Dean (Coleen) Lyons and Dr. James Ruggles (niece
Dianne deceased).
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Virginia Simon and Ruth Lyons; and two nieces, Debra Lyons and Dianne Ruggles.
A visitation for family and friends will be held 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Friday,
January 3, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. A graveside service will
follow at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Evergreen Cemetery with Pastor Nathaniel Adkins,
First Lutheran Church, officiating. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran
Church, 201 W. Briggs Ave., Fairfield, Iowa 52556 or Lone Tree Health Care
Center, 501 E. Pioneer Rd., Lone Tree, IA, 52755
Online condolences may be made to Helen’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.